Thursday, April 30, 2009

After watching a few softball games this year, I was refreshed about the spirit of team sports in youth. The Cardinals chant constantly on the sidelines, boosting them up for the game, and sometimes getting under the skin of the opponents and even their fans. Hive-fives after every out in the infield are always given. After the game, it's time for a group session of "way to go." They are very friendly after the games, and always seem into what they are doing. That's what it's all about. Good job girls, and good luck in the SUNYAC.

So far, PSU's spring sports have been very successful, reaching the SUNYAC playoffs in baseball, softball, and lacrosse. However, as I make my way around campus in the warm weather, I watch a sport that has no collegiant tourney, no PSU banner, or even any recognition. Nonetheless, it's one of the more popular sports in the world.

I'm talking about cricket. I have no idea what it is, or how to play. It looks like a simple version of baseball, and the players seem to have more fun playing it. A few of my suitemates are Sri Lankan, so one day I decided to find out what it was all about. After a couple hours of standing there watching, and with a couple denials of playing due to the complete lack of understanding, I learned that cricket is very simple.

Here's how you play in easy terms. There's a bowler; he's the guy who hurls the hardball at the batter. The bowler wants to hit the wickets behind the batter; the batter wants to drill the ball. There are runners who run back and forth try to get to their respective "bases" before someone either catches the ball or throws the ball and hits the wicket.

If the runners are all safe, 1 point.Ground-rule double-4 points.Home Run-6 points.

Ok, I'm ready. It's fascinating to see such a foreign, but so popular game played at PSU. I love the action, but even with the rules, I have NO idea what's going on. Oh well, let's play!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Last night I found one of the true loves I have in sports, and why I can't stand it at the same time. For my money, there is no greater spectacle in sports than the 3rd period of a game 7 in playoff hockey. The action is constant, and the drama holds you through commercial breaks, making you beg for them to drop the puck to continue play. Every penalty is crucial; every 2-on-1 is a cringing 10 seconds of "no, no, no...YES" or vice versa.

Luckily, I got to experience two game 7's at the same time. The Rangers/Capitals matchup was an intriguing battle between a low-scoring offense holding off a juggernaut shooter and his henchmen. Though a Devils fan (yeah, we're getting to that one), I began to pull for the locals near the end, wondering if the 7 could upset the 2. Well, I obviously got my hopes up for no reason, as me and my roommate (a diehard Ranger fan) watched helplessly as New York fell behind, leaving no hope for a second round birth.

There's still a game that I'm interested in though at this time, and it's 3-2 Devils going into the 3rd. Like the beast he is, Marty Brodeur starts playing like an all-timer, making save after save. And then, the last two minutes...

A drifter. A Brodeur fail. 4-3 'Canes

Though I'm not a huge hockey fan, I was captivated by this drama for a couple hours, only to be shot down again. However, I'd sign up for that sports drama any day.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Well, another NFL draft has come and gone. So many great picks, so many bad ones, and so many disappointing or ecstatic fans. As a passionate football fan in general, however, I just can't get into the actual big day at Radio City. I think there's one simple fact: they already tell me the draft before it happens!

There's nothing that gets me going more in the morning than a steady dose of Mel Kiper's hair, followed by great over-analysis of Iowa State's secondary by himself and young pointless info guru Todd McShay. Even though they get it all correct, I wish I didn't know what each team was getting three days after the Super Bowl.

Finally, the big day comes. Who will the winless Lions pick first? Oh wow, a shocker! They took the QB every single human on Earth knew they would! Let's interrupt the Yankees and Red Sox to tell the world this vital information.

The one great thing that happened in this year's lineup of football excellence was the proof that Al Davis is pure genius. The chance to take the best statistical wide receiver in the draft in Michael Crabtree must have gotten to him. Instead, the star ended up going right across the bay to the team it seems Davis always wants to be like in San Francisco.

What will next year's draft bring? More excitement? More drama? More ridiculous salaries? I'm not too concerned about that, because let's face it. It's all about the hair!

Saturday, April 25, 2009

When will the Yankees and Red Sox decide to play a regular, well-pitched, well-defended baseball game? So far I've watched eight hours of Yanks/Sox action since Friday at 7pm. Normally, that'd mean the end of the third game of a weekend set is closing, but not these teams. Nope, we're leading off the 7th inning of game 2.

Nothing seems to go as planned in these games. Here are some crazy examples.

The average time of a major league game is just over 3 hours. Friday night's game was just under 5 hours, and Saturday's game is destined to run over 4 hours itself.

Josh Beckett: 2-1 3.79Saturday: 6IP, 8ER

The Yankees scored 10 runs before the 8th inning. They went into the 8th behind 12-10.

If you are a baseball fan, and want to know what you're going to get in a team every single day, DON'T watch a game between the Sox and Yanks. If you want 25-run games every time the Red Sox show up, don't get your hopes up. They'll just do it when the Bombers come into town.